On March 25th, Ontario’s Liberal Government killed the Special Diet in
the Provincial Budget. 20% of those on social assistance in Ontario
have been getting this vital benefit and will now be thrown into a
crisis - robbed of the ability to buy food and pay the rent once
again.

People on Welfare and Disability live on rates that are shamefully
inadequate. Since the 1995 cuts, these rates have been reduced in real
terms by more than 40%. For 15 years, people have been forced further
in to poverty. In slashing the Special Diet now - the government is
taking away the one thing that people on Social Assistance had left to
try to get-by. This is the most devastating social cutback since Mike
Harris slashed welfare rates in 1995.

The Liberal Government has dared to talk about ‘poverty reduction’.
Not only has it cut the Special Diet while huge numbers of people face
the impact of an economic crisis, but it has announced that it will
increase the rates by 1% at the end of the year. That’s less than
inflation and an insulting slap in the face. Governments responded to
the economic crisis by giving billions of dollars in bailouts and tax
cuts to failed corporations and banks. Now they are looking to get
that money back in the way of serious social cutbacks. The Special
Diet is an example, but all Public Services are under threat.

If we let the government write our future, it will be bleak. It’s time
to challenge this Government and to build a movement to win the right
to decent income. We are calling on poor people in Ontario to organize
and fight back. We won’t pay for their crisis or their deficit. We
demand the right to a decent income and a future free of poverty.
Raise the Rates by 40% Now!